Dhanas liquor vend goes for Rs 11.5 crore, highest-ever bid in UT

CHANDIGARH: A liquor vend in Dhanas village fetched Rs 11.55 crore, the highest-ever bid in the city, against a reserve price of Rs 7.95 crore in an e-auction held on Friday.

The excise and taxation department earned a revenue of Rs 398.04 crore from the auction of 80 of 96 vends after receiving 162 bids. There was an increase of 25.44% over the reserve price of Rs 317.31 crore.A sum of Rs 5.67 crore was received as participation fee. An analysis of successful bidders revealed no single entity got allotment of more than eight vends. The department would issue permits online. This would eliminate the need of any licencee to physically visit the office, promoting transparency and ease of doing business, said an senior UT official. There were no takers for 16 vends. The opening of e-bids was done at Hotel Parkview, Sector 24, in the presence of UT deputy commissioner Mandip Brar.
The administration had recently approved the excise policy for 2021-22 after securing approval from UT administrator VP Singh Badnore. The excise duty on Indian Made Foreign Liquor had increased by around 6%. The new policy would come into force from April 1.
To boost hospitality industry and tourism, there had been no increase in the licence fee of hotels, bars and restaurants. The facility of mini bar had been allowed in three star and four star in addition to five star or above category of hotels.